Peterborough MEP Backs New Rough Sleepers Cold Weather Fund

Posted by Alex Mayer on 19th December 2018

There has been a 199% increase in people sleeping rough in this region since 2010 according to figures collected by the Government.

Since October last year, an estimated 484 people have died homeless nationwide, including during the ‘beast from the east’ cold spell between February and March last year. Last winter one in four severe weather services had to turn rough sleepers away.

Euro MP Alex Mayer is backing Labour’s plans for funding to be provided for emergency accommodation in every area, for all rough sleepers whenever local temperatures are set to fall below freezing.

This will be funded through a new Rough Sleepers Cold Weather Fund, set at £100m in the first year, and paid for by a previously announced second homes levy. As well as extra emergency shelter, this will also fund keyworkers to link rough sleepers with health and housing support to keep them off the streets for good, given that cold weather enables contact with rough sleepers that are otherwise hard to reach.

Ms Mayer said: “Thousands of people will sleep rough on park benches and shop doorways this winter. It is hard to believe that there is no guarantee of basic emergency accommodation for these people during cold weather in one of the richest countries in the world.”